Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Proponents of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) claim it is a breakthrough treatment for those plagued with traumatic memories and other psychological problems. But does it actually work?

Who Developed EMDR?

EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD, in 1987 when she discovered, by chance, that she could ease her own disturbing thoughts by moving her eyes rapidly from left to right. From there, Dr. Shapiro studied the effectiveness of EMDR on people with
post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). Her research showed that EMDR held promise in reducing flashbacks, nightmares, negative thoughts, and avoidant behaviors. Since then, mental health professionals have received training in EMDR and use it regularly with those suffering from traumatic memories.

EMDR is often used to treat people who have trauma resulting from:

Sexual assaults

Other violent crimes

Combat

Airline and train crashes

Automobile and industrial accidents

In adults, these events often lead to symptoms such as nightmares, panic attacks,
phobias,
insomnia, and
drug abuse. In children, symptoms such as oppositional behavior, sleep disturbances, and
bed wetting
may be present.

What Can You Expect?

If you are seeking EMDR treatment, the EMDR International Association recommends that you find an EMDR-trained mental health professional who will guide you through 8 phases of treatment. The number of sessions and phases within each session varies from person to person; however, the eight phases of treatment are essential. They include:

Phase One: Personal History

The therapist will ask questions about your mental health history to evaluate your suitability for treatment. You will be asked about the level of your distress, current life stressors, and medical conditions. The therapist will then set up a treatment plan.

Phase Two: Preparation Phase

The therapist will introduce you to EMDR, explain how it works, and let you know what you can expect. You will be informed about the possibility of increased symptoms between sessions. You may be given relaxation exercises to use before and between EMDR sessions.

Phase Three: Assessment

You will be asked to identify the traumatic memory or an image from that memory. Then, you will be asked to think about a negative thought you have about yourself in relation to the traumatic event, such as “I am a bad person.” Next, the therapist will ask you to come up with a positive thought about yourself, such as “I am a lovable person” and to rate how much you believe that thought. Lastly, you will focus on the traumatic image and the negative thought you have about yourself and rate your level of emotional upset using a rating scale.

Phase Four: Desensitization

You will be asked to focus on your disturbing feelings while letting your eyes follow the therapist’s fingers as they move rapidly back and forth across a span of about 12 inches. This procedure is repeated in sets, each of which last from 10 seconds to more than 1 minute. This will continue until your emotional distress is greatly reduced.

In some cases, instead of eye movement, the therapist may ask you to tap alternate hands on a chair rest, or may use alternating sounds in your ears. Other more advanced strategies may also be used.

Phase Five: Cognitive Restructuring

In this phase, the positive belief will be strengthened in an effort to replace the negative belief associated with the traumatic memory. You will be asked to concentrate on the positive belief during the eye movement sets. This will continue until you reach a specific rate on the scale that the therapist is using. When evoking the traumatic memory, this should help you believe the positive thought about yourself.

Phase Six: Awareness of Bodily Sensation

As you hold the traumatic image and positive belief in your mind, you will focus on any tension that arises in your body. During the following sets of eye movements, or other desensitization techniques, the therapist will help you reduce bodily tension.

Phase Seven: Closure

Your therapist will talk to you about disturbing thoughts, images, or emotions that may occur between sessions and may ask you to keep a log or journal. While these symptoms may be uncomfortable, they are interpreted as a positive sign.

Phase Eight: Reevaluation

Before each new session, you will be reevaluated to see if the treatment effects have been maintained. The therapist will continue to work with you on additional traumatic memories and images, following the same eight-phase procedure.

Does EMDR Work?

Researchers have done controlled studies to investigate the potential effects of EMDR in people with PTSD. A review based on 6 studies concluded that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing was more effective than usual care or no care. However, it did not appear to be any better than
cognitive-behavioral therapy
or stress management in other trials. In another review, only 2 of 5 trials that were evaluated showed that EMDR with eye movements was more effective than the treatment without eye movements.

How Do You Find an EMDR Therapist?

If you are interested in trying this type of therapy, you can begin your search with professional organizations, like the EMDR International Association and the EMDR Institute, that offer training programs. The therapist that you work with should have:

Earned a license to practice mental health or social work in your state

Completed a training program in EMDR and earned a certificate

After you find an EMDR therapist, ask questions to help you determine if the person is someone that you feel comfortable with:

What kind of training have you had?

Have you stayed current with your training?

How much experience do you have?

How can EMDR be helpful for me and my specific issues?

While EMDR is still evolving, it does carry the promise of reducing the intensity of traumatic memories, which can help you to live a more productive life.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.